US government condemns anti-Semitic Opera House protest

As Sydney braces for another pro-Palestine rally, the US envoy to combat anti-Semitism has condemned protesters who yelled “gas the Jews” and burned Israel’s flag.

The US government has condemned the vile anti-Semitic actions of protesters at a pro-Palestine rally outside Sydney’s iconic Opera House.

As the city braces for another protest this weekend, the Biden administration sent a strong message denouncing those celebrating Hamas’s mass murder of Israeli civilians in cities around the world including Sydney, London and New York.

Deborah Lipstadt, the US special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism, posted a story on social media about the distressing scenes in Sydney and said: “We deplore anti-Semitic slogans and symbols at recent protests, including chants of ‘gas the Jews’ in Sydney.”

Protesters burn the Israeli flag outside the Sydney Opera House. Picture: Jeremy Piper (NCA NewsWire)

Moments after the blue and white colours of Israel’s flag lit up the Opera House on Monday night, protesters started screaming “f*** Israel” and “f*** the Jews”, while also setting off flares and burning the Israeli flag.

Ms Lipstadt, a historian appointed to the diplomatic post by President Joe Biden last year, wrote on X – the platform formerly known as Twitter – that “such hatred only makes peace harder to achieve”.

We deplore antisemitic slogans and symbols at recent protests, including chants of “Gas the Jews” in Sydney. We condemn those who take to the streets of cities like London and New York to celebrate Hamas’ mass murder of 1,200 civilians (1/5)https://t.co/wuNldk201O

— Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt (@StateSEAS) October 13, 2023

“Revelling in the murder and rape of civilians, or chanting ‘from the river to the sea’, has nothing to do with advancing security, prosperity, freedom and democracy for the Palestinian people,” she said.

“Hamas does not hide its hatred of Jews, nor its goal to destroy Israel … Hamas are not soldiers or resistance fighters; they are terrorists.”

“This is not a matter of religion or politics. Murder is never acceptable and cannot be justified by any faith or ideology.”

Police have vowed to prevent a repeat of the vile protest this weekend. Picture: Jeremy Piper (NCA NewsWire)

“Whatever your views on Mideast policy, targeting people because they are Jews or based on a real or perceived connection to Israel is anti-Semitic.”

Premier Chris Minns apologised to the Jewish community for allowing Monday night’s protest and promised to prevent a repeat this weekend.

NSW Police are considering using extraordinary powers to stop and search pro-Palestine activists who are planning to rally in Hyde Park on Sunday.

“There is, of course, a right to protest in NSW but there’s also a right to be free from intimidation, from incitement to violence, from racial vilification or actual violence in NSW,” Mr Minns said.

“The scenes that we saw on Monday night couldn’t be repeated over the weekend … and police have got every right to protect and ensure that those scenes aren’t repeated.”

Originally published as US government condemns anti-Semitic Opera House protest